Happy New Year!!!

2011 came and went. There were some good times, bad times and great times that were had. The most memorable for me was going to Paris and London the first week in January and ice skating on the Eiffel Tower. That was spectacular!

And here is what the Eiffel Tower looked like while I was ice skating on the second level of it... Isn't it magnificent?!

That was an amazing trip! One that I will never forget. Thanks for the memories and wonderful experience Dad! I love you.


XOXO,
Jaime

T.G.I.F?...

This Friday, I thank God for giving us another day of life and pray to him for the strength to get through this day and weekend without losing my mind. I have a long list of things to get done by this weekend, like laundry, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the bathroom from top to bottom, tackling the bedrooms and making piles for garbage and donations, homeschool prep, etc... Oh, and a Target run!

We seriously need to rid our home of all the excess toys, clothes that no longer fit and get back to "A place for everything and everything in it's place." I miss those days and need to get back to having some sense of organization.

It never ceases to amaze me how much stuff you acquire when you have 6 people under 1 roof, 4 of them being children. We're talking birthday gifts, holidays or just because times 4!!! It adds up quickly.

Now back to that Target run that I mentioned previously. There are some great deals, let me tell you! The kids are into their last bottle of vitamins, I'm almost out of dryer sheets and I'm out of laundry spray. I figured since I have all of the coupons, I might as well stock up while they're on price cut! And I do have all of that cleaning to do, so I need it. Right? Or maybe I just need a little me time. Maybe both!

Anyhow, with the New Year approaching and all of the festivities you may or may not have planned, please be safe and "Don't Drink & Drive."

That said, I leave you with this:

Luke 11:25

New King James Version
(NKJV)

²⁵ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.

LOVE & BLESSINGS,
Jaime

Motherhood - A True Blessing...

This morning I woke up to my 3 little ones' smiling faces and went about the start of our day. We washed up and I gave them breakfast. While they ate, I went to make the beds. When I finished, I hopped on my laptop to take a peek at my morning feeds when I came across this post - How Barnes and Noble Reminded Me of Motherhood by Rachel Martin at Finding Joy. Reading it was like the breath of fresh air that I've so desperately needed. For me, it was a reminder of the true blessing of motherhood.

It's very easy to lose sight of your purpose with the daily "Hustle & Bustle" of life. It doesn't stand still while you try to figure out why things went left when you were trying to go right. 

I'm a stay-at-home mom of 4 and never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever get married, let alone have 4 children. I wanted to have a career & be successful. But the Lord had other plans for me. He blessed me with a loving, supportive husband, 4 loving, gracious children and the means by which I'm able to stay home and raise them.

Just because I didn't become a successful lawyer or doctor, doesn't mean that I was unsuccessful. My success is based on so much more than that. It's based on Motherhood and all of the subcategories that it entails.

Not everyone can do what I do. Being a stay-at-home mom is hard work. And I love a great challenge! So with that, I leave you with this:

Proverbs 31:10-31

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Virtuous Wife

    ¹⁰ Who^[a] can find a virtuous^[b] wife?
      For her worth is far above rubies.
       ¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
      So he will have no lack of gain.
       ¹² She does him good and not evil
      All the days of her life.
       ¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
      And willingly works with her hands.
       ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
      She brings her food from afar.
       ¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night,
      And provides food for her household,
      And a portion for her maidservants.
       ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
      From her profits she plants a vineyard.
       ¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
      And strengthens her arms.
       ¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good,
      And her lamp does not go out by night.
       ¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
      And her hand holds the spindle.
       ²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor,
      Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
       ²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
      For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
       ²² She makes tapestry for herself;
      Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
       ²³ Her husband is known in the gates,
      When he sits among the elders of the land.
       ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
      And supplies sashes for the merchants.
       ²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing;
      She shall rejoice in time to come.
       ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
      And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
       ²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household,
      And does not eat the bread of idleness.
       ²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
      Her husband also, and he praises her:
       ²⁹ “ Many daughters have done well,
      But you excel them all.”
       ³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
      But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
       ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
      And let her own works praise her in the gates.


LOVE & BLESSINGS,
Jaime

The Lord Came To My Rescue...

 

I kid you not. The Lord just came to my rescue. About 11:45 am, my youngest son comes to my bedroom and tells me that the bathroom door is locked and he doesn't know who did it. (Right!) I'm furious and immediately go into panic mode because there's no key to unlock it and the worst part, it's our only bathroom!

I decided to go into my bedroom and look in my pen holder on my desk for some mini screwdrivers to use to try to unlock it myself. I found two. I grabbed my cellphone and proceeded down the hallway to the bathroom door. I inserted one of the screwdrivers and began to poke and turn to no avail. So I called L at work and explained the situation. I continued to poke and turn with him on the line. It must have been loud and he must have sensed my frustration, because he asked me to stop before I break the handle and it can't be fixed. I complied with his request and he told me that he would just come home and try to fix it, so we hung up. I walked back to my room to set down my cellphone and screwdrivers when suddenly, I got this strange urge to walk back to the bathroom door. So, I proceeded back down the hallway, to the bathroom door with no tools in hand and grabbed the door handle, and turned. To my shock and amazement, it opened. 

Dumbfounded, I ran back to my bedroom and called L at work to let him know that he didn't have to come home after all because the door was unlocked. He responded with, "It was the Lord. Now, go tell your son that he's not in big trouble anymore." And I responded with, "You're right. I will tell him right now. Have a great lunch. Love you. Bye!"

The lesson I took from this experience is this:

Psalm 46:1 

 

New King James Version

 (NKJV)

 

 ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.

I was in panic mode and He came, reminded me of His presence and all that He can do during one's time of need.  I am a Believer. The Lord moves in mysterious ways and today, He came to my rescue.


LOVE & BLESSINGS,  
Jaime

The Prep Work Begins...

Last night I went to Target to buy some new ink cartridge refills for my printer, so I can start printing off the children's first week of curriculum - Letter A. Some of the pages will require laminating, so I can't wait to use my new laminating machine!

I also have to go to Michaels Arts & Crafts this week to get one of these carts with the colorful drawers to store all of the kids supplies. They're 40% off this week so I should get it for a great price!

I'm also expecting some supplies to be delivered this week, like the erasers & craft magnets that came today. As well as a few books, markers, cds, etc... This is definitely going to be a busy week!!!


XOXO,
Jaime

A Very Merry Christmas Indeed...

Go figure. The one day of the year that you would expect your kids to be up at the butt crack of dawn, they sleep in until after 8 am. It's been like this every single year for us! Oh how L and I dream of the day that we'll be able to sleep in til' at least 8 am... That would be amazing!

The kids were wide eyed and bushy tailed as they walked around the corner from their rooms to see all of the gifts that Santa had left under their tree as they slept. With all that glorious goodness, they could hardly contain themselves.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures to share of them tearing into their gifts as I captured those moments on my pocket hd camcorder. I do, however, have this picture that L took of Angel Pie standing outside of her pop-up castle wearing one of her princess dress-up ensembles...

Absolutely priceless! She adored all of her princess-themed presents this year... and the boys loved all of their gifts as well. It was a very Merry Christmas indeed!

Wishing you and your family a Blessed New Year from our family to yours...


XOXO,
Jaime